Improvement in bee-hive



@nitro toiles datent @fitta FREEMAN MOORE, OF OARROLLTON, ASSIGNORv-TO HIMSELF AND J. Hv

' TRESSEL, OF CARROLL COUNTY, OHIO.

Letters Patent Nm 78,813, elated Jima 9, 1868.-

IMPEOVEMENT IN BEE-HIVE- TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONGERN: i p

Be it known that I, FREEMAN MOORE, of Carrollton, in thecounty of Carroll, and in the State of Ohio, have-,invented new anduseful Improvements in Bee-Hives; and I do hereby declare that the fcllokwing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and -the letters of reference marked thereon. i

In the-annexed drawings, making'a part of this specification- Figure 1 represents a perspective, and I i Figure 2 represents a rear view et' my improved bee-hive.

Figure 3 represents a plan view, and Y.

Figure 4a cross-section of the feed-box attachment of my hive.

Figure 5 represents a section of the main hive, slotted honey-board I, and surplus-honey receptacles K K.

Figure 6 represents a. section of the queen-cage and movable cover.

Figure 7 represents a plan view, and

Figure 8 represents a section of one of my surplus-honey boxes or observatory Figure 9 represents a section of another surplus-honey box'and case.

Figure 10 represents my divider, made lof' fpasteboard, as will be hereinafter described.

A, in the annexed drawings, represents a stand or base, made of any suitable material and dimensions, the front side of' which is inclined from the gro-und backward, so as to correspond with and i'orm a continuation of the permanent bottom board of the main hive, as shown in gs. 1 and`5, and is provided with staples, x, on each side, for hook, z, to catch-in, and thereby securely fasten the main hive to it, and forms a convenient and I improved base therefor.

B represents a rectangular oblong box, which is set on and fastened to the base, A, and forms the mainhive. The hive B is provided with a door, hinged to its back side. The bottom ofthe main hive, B, is composed ci two boards, G and D, placed at any desired angle with each other and with the sides of the hive. The board C forms a continuation of the bevelled frontof the base, A, andis called the permanent bottom board. I The.

other bottom board, D, is adjustable and movable, sind isprovided'with a movable slide,-'r. Said board is made so as to fit in grooves in the sides of the hive, and extends backward from the front thereof at anangle, and is fastened or adjusted at any desired place in said grooves, by means of wedges t t. Thefront side. of the main hive extends down only as faras the movable adjustable bottom board D. There is, therefore, an open space between the two bottom boards inthe front part ofthe hive, which I call a'portico, and is very useful as a pro tection for bees during a. sudden storm of wind or rain. The bees can readily happroach and enter the portico, but might be unable to getinto the hive, as the passage is ordinarily so'small that but few bees can pass or repass at the Sametime, and in the hurry ot'a large number, the passage would `become completely blocked up, and those that were so uniortnnate as to be late in their arrival at the hive would be blown or washed away by the wind or rain, and thereby perish; This device obviates all of that'diiculty. The board may be so adjusted as to give passage for bees the whole length ot.' the bottom of thehive, or in good weather 'may he taken out altogether, thus a'ording a direct passage for the bees to the honey-i`rames f, and thereby save much valuable time for the bees. Should, however, other sw'arms or stocks of bees attempt to rob the'colony in the hive B, f

theboard D may be pressed-close to` the permanent bottom board C, and the slide t' adjusted so as to give only a short and narrow opening, which is easily guarded, and as the attacking party is compelled to approach up theinclined plane of the permanent bottom board C, the bees in the hive, having the choice of position, are thereby enabled to resist the attack of a superior forcefand thus piracy and robbery are prevented, and the weak protected against the strong. i

By closing the movable boa-rd D and its slide r, the bees are prcventedffrom escaping, and my hive needs no alteration or addition to make it a safeand convenient bok to transport bees in Vfrom one place to another.

'taste 7.

By the use of the slide r, or the adjustablev board D, I regulate the time of the swarming of bees to whatever time I choose. I withdraw the wcdgcst t, which are made just five thirty-seconds of an inch in thickness, and slide the bottom board D or the slide 1' down in their grooves, until the lower edge rests on o'ne of thewedgest, which I use as a gauge, and there securey said board or slide,or both, as the case' may be. The entrance so arranged will allow the worker-bees to pass, butiwill prevent the passage of a queen,-and thereby eil`ectually preventswarming until the entrance is enlarged. I

p The gauge is made exactly of the size given above, so that it is of the dimensions required to confine the 4 queen and allow the workers to pass. It will be seen that the size of the passage may be regulated by either the movable board D or the slide r. I l

It will readily be seen that the inclination Vo-i' the two boards, C and D, is such as to cause all dirt, vdead bees, and broken comb, or other foreign substancc,to slide ydownfand out of the hive. It is, therefore, a solfclcaner. l i

In the back or rear of the hive, I secure a pane 'of'gla'ss vabove the bottom board C, Vand directly in front of the doorof the hive, for the purpose of furnishing light, whenever the same may be required for observation.

A board, E, is placed at an anglo with the back side of the hive, and ts between it and the bottom board C, through which are a suitable number of holes, 0,covcred with wire screens, for the purpose of ventilators to allow the passage ofair upward, and to circulate through the passages in the hive. p

Onthe back side, between the glass and the bottom board, I make a number of grooves, in which I place slides, C, so as to be able to shut off the too free circulation of air between the chamber in the rear of which are made the boards C and E, and the movable comb-framesf. On the sides of the hive, leading into vthe abovedescrib'ed chamber, and also near thetop-,of the hive, I have 'other holes, covered with wire screens, o, and buttons or metallic covers, o', for the purpose of more completely regulating ventilation.

l The upper ends of the front and back boards of the main hive ar'e bcvelled or cut away for the purpose of giving room for andinwhich are secured wire rods, g. These rods are for the purpose of affording a con-- venient and superior device, upon which to suspend the comb-frames f. 'The' movable frames which I use, and are marked f in the annexed drawings,vare constructed either rectangular in'form, with the lower sides closed, or the lower side may be left open by putting a stay-slut across at any distance from the bottom or lower end thereof,`that may be deemed most desirable.' These frames,f, are made so as to nearly fit in the hive from front to back, and are provided'with sui-table metallichooks, to catch on the wire rods g, and arc thereby susvpended. I use a Vperforated comb-guide, II, and either `rectangular or with its lower end made to correspond with and lit against the bottom boards C and D. The guides H are suspended in the same manner andby the same means asthe framef. 9* represents my divider, and is made of pastcboard, and tacked or fastened to the side of one of the frames f, the bottom thereof made to correspond with th'e angular shape of'the hive. The comb-guide is made of pasteboard,and pasted or fastened tobent wire frames, of similar shapeto the combframes, and thc'divider is perforated, and the'combguides are coated with a solution of melted bees-wax and resin, (one part wax and two parts resin,) which makes such pasteboard comb-guides impervious to moisture, and saves the bees the labor of covering them ove'r with propolis. I I i I prevent-the building of drone-combs by means of the perforated guides H. When Iwish toconfinc the 4 bees to the main hive, I set the movable top or cover R thereon.

N represents a rectangular box-frame, in the sides of which I set glass, and'in which'I suspend six or more movable comb-frames, f, and comb-guides I-I, similar in construction, (except those frames h-ave bottoms,) and -suspended in a. similar manner with the movable framcsfin Ithe main hive. This'box contains the same'number of frames and comb-guides, and is suspended or set the same distance apart, and is designed to produce the same effect, as will be hereinafter specied, in my ordinary or common case or box I. This bei, N, I call 'my observa-tory, for by meansr ofthe transparent sides I am able to see what is doing inside, and by removing a partof the frames when allv are filled, leaving one-half remain, I, in this way, can cause the bees to build and store all the season in said observatory, or while honey 'can be obtained from the flowers.

This observatory, 'or its equivalent, is indispensable to my new mode of breeding queens, and its use is as follows: Early in the spring the movahlecomblframe f is illedwithv worker-combs, andplaced in the observatory, which is placed on the main hive, and the bees at once allowed to occupy the observatory N. The upper rear passage is at once opened and the bees permitted to use this rear ixpper passage when about to commence to breed queens. The queen is caught and placed in the cage, in thevmovable cover R, and the communication cut oil' between the observatory N and the main .hive by means 'of a sheet of pasteboard, cut to exactly iit the top of the main hive, and the observatory is again set on the main-hive'. The bees in the observatory N retain their queen', and are reconciled. Those in the main hive have no queen, but the means vto rear one, so they at once commence queenicells. I-n twelve days every queen-cell is taken from them, and this leaves them hopclessly queenless, and they will accept'any queen oifered to them. The queen in the observatory'N is again caught and placed in the c agc on the movable cover R, und the pasteboard is removed from the mainhive, and used in the observatory N as a cover, and thc movable cover R, with queen-cage attached, and queen in thc cage, is placed on the top of the main hive B, and left caged for a short time, as was done when she was first placed in cage on the observatory.` y

In or during thc time thc queen remained in thc'observatory N, she filled all the combs or cells with eggs. g The observatory, now being deprived of its queen,atvoncc proceeds to rearing queens, and the main-hive has no eggs, but-.has theoriginal queen, which is depositing eggs in the cells. In twelve days the observatory isdeprived of its sealed queen-cells, which cells canbe at once transferred into old stocks, from which artificial swarms should be taken, or such queen-cells can be placed in cages, and set on hives, to hatch, where the young queens can remain till needed. From eight to teni'quce'n-cells, on an average, can be procured at each change of the. queen, .and can heV continued during the whole summer season, without detriment to the old, original' colony, while honey-gathering and breedingare continued. When no more queens are needed, remove the cover from the main hive, and the colony is the same as when the queen-breeding'was commenced.

The honey-board I is very-simply constructed, being m'ade of two main orcross-pieces, and then tacking or fastening across a series of parallel slats thereto, making a rectangular slotted frame of size equal to the top of the main hive. This honey-board I'l is desirable for the purpose of allowing free passa-ge upward through the hive, and yet preventing the becs from attachingthcir comb to the top of the frames f, u s they :build from above downward. i l

Upon this honey-board-.IQ -I place a piece of perforated pasteboard or other material, the perforations of any siz-c or'sh'ape to correspond with such vessel, receptacle,or tumbler,-K, as tit may be desired to have the becs fill. In this way bees may be made to build their comb, and to ltill any desired vessel with honey, and

- thereby contribute to`and gratify'the fancy of the keeper, and furnish such fancy or ornamental shapes for the table; I have a case or box, I, which may be used or not, as-the operator may think "proper, which is partly composed of glass, so that all operations within it may be observed, which just fits over the honey-receptacles, or which may bensed by itself as a honey-box. Said case or box'is also provided with a. series of parallel slats en.or across tlietop, and with a series ofsmall notches betweensaid slats, so aste suspend movable comb-4 When I use the lsurplushoney box I, the slotted honey-board I' is first adjusted on top of the main hive, and the 4aid honey-box set thereon, and the movable cover R then adjusted on top-of -said box"I.

The becs attachtheir'comb to the horizontal slats on top of the surplus-honey box I,--as-a suitable base.

r adjust movable comb-guides in eac'h' of the notches in tho box I, which are made two inches or moreapart,

and thespace between said guides beingtoo narrow fortwo combs, the bees begin one comb on each slat, and

continue to lengthen the Icells until the entire space is filledtby onccomb, which is very desirable vin surplushoney boxes.j Such combs are entirely nni't .forrrearing broods, and therefore thequccn will never deposit eggs in such comb or surplus-honey box.

While .the beesare made tn buildnone but thick combs in .the'surplus-honey boues, the guides are arranged close inthe main hive, so as4 toprevent the building of combs. thick enough for breeding drenes." It will therefore b e seen that I can regulate the number or quantity of drones in a new swarm to suit.

The box Iis also useful in winter, as a chamber in which I put cha'rco`al or dry corn-cobs, and adjust-the.A ,i

' same on top f themain hive` The 'charcoal or corn-cobs absorb all the lmoisture in the hive,randt are preferable to upward ventilation. Over this case or box, and of equalsize with the main hive, lis an adjustable outside case, L', which is provided with hooks z', which catch instaples ze fin themain'hive, and hold said case L securely to the top thereof,I

The top case L has on each side, or in front and rear, a small elongated notch or groove,j, whichmaybe closed or opened at pleasure, which extends back'into and directlyabove the movable frames. f in the main hive. This notch is designed for a convenient dooror passage for the bees into 'tho`surplus-houey box above themain hive, whenever the perator chooses'to open the same for that'purpose.

N represents a rectangular box-frame, in the sides of which I set glass, andin which I adjust movable comb-framesV f and. dividers H, similar in' construction and suspended in a similar vmanner with the movable l frames of the main hive. This boxlI call my observatory, for by means of the transparent sides .I amable to see what is going on inside, and by-removing theadjust'able cmb-framcs f as .they are filled, I keep the bees at work in said box or observatory N.

' R represents a movable cover andquecn-cage.` This cover is made just soas to fit on the mtgp ofthe main hive, or on thetop of either of the boxes I or N, and is providedwith a small recess, c, over whiclrsiccrca wire screen. Leading into this recess a is a small groove, in which -is adjusted a suitable slide, p, which opens and closes the passirge through the sl'at into the'r'ecess v. This slide p is operated from the top or outside by means of a small pin, extcndingupward through the top, R. 0n tl 1e top, and directly above the recess v, I

adjust a metallic cup or vessel, rS, `which I use for'breeding'quecns.

The vessel or cup is provided with an adjustable bottom, and is itself adjustable, so that it may be retrieved,`

together with itsbottoin, whenever it may be desiredto do so for the purpose of caging a queen.' The cup S is provided with a small yhole in its top, througlrwhich a queen may be inserted, if desired, and is-closed by any suitable device, having Ventilating-holes through it.

When it is .desired to introduce thequeen into the recess v, the adjustable bottom of the cup S is partially removed or-slipped one Vside, so as to allow the queen-to pass, after which 'it is readjusted, and the queen is held or caged in saidrecess.

The queen will be'. fed and cared for while in the recess v by the becs, which will pass food through the wire screen over said recess. Y i i A I* After the queen has 'been 'kept as above for a short time, she may b e liberated, and' the becs will receive her as their queen without objection or disturbance. I i 'lhe cup-Sis also used to suspend queen-cells containing unhatchedqueens, which arematuredand hatched by means of the animal heat passing up from the hive below theirecess v. The adjustable bottom ofthe cup S i is removed during the above operation. As soon as the queens are hatched, they will receive food, as above,

through the meshes of the screen below the recess v. l

By watching the bees in my observatory N, I am able to see when the queen goes into thercces's, and then, by moving the slide p, she is easily and securely confined therein. p

This cover R may be used on top of the main hivo, or on top` et' the case Lof the surplus-honey receptacle, or on top of the observatory N when it is adjusted upon the main hive, ns the case may require.. f

The outside case L is dispensed with when the bees are confined in the mainhive B, by adjusting the cover R on the top of the main hive.

P represents a feed-box for bees, the top having suitable ventilators, and made s o as to he easily removed,` so that food may beput in the receptacles, and provided with a slot, q, through the bottom, for the'bees to pass. through, and thence' over the top o f the partitions -Z to the perforated 'or slotted floats z', through which the bees obtain their food, without any ,danger of getting stuck or drowned.V

'I usually make three apartments in my feed-box, fon the different kinds of vi'eed required by bees when they are short of honey. This feed-box Plnay be set on top of thejframes of the main hive, or on top of either of the main frames, and thereby all the bees4 may obtain food alike, and withoutdanger of perishing, or of beingr robbed by strong stocks.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to seeure'by Letters Patent, isy t 1. The movable bottom board D, provided Awith a slide, r, in combination with the wedges tor their equivalent, when constructed and 'arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The slotted honey-board I, combination with perforated pasteboard and fancy honey-receptacles K, when constructed and used substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The cover` R, when provided with a queen-cage, z' Shand slide p, substantially as and for the purpose specified.' l

4. suspending the'm'ovable frames f and the dividers t by means of metallic hooks thereon, and the horizontal wire rods and braces g, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The air-chambers m, andthe double ventilators o and n, in combination with the slides u, wbcnhrranged and used as and for the purpose herein set forth.

6. The comb-guides H, when constructed and used inthe manner and for the purpose set forth.

7. The dividers f when constructed and used in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of the honey-box N, a'sconstrueted, with the pasteboard separator, and arranged in the hive, as and for thepurposes specified. 4 v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand, this day of v 1868.

' I FREEMAN MOORE.

Witnesses:

C. W. NEwELn, A. P. MORTLAND. 

